Jae's Blog, page 31

Interview with lesbian fiction author Jae — yes, me — and a book giveaway

Today’s interviewee is a surprise guest—me. Yes, that’s right. Jae, author of f/f slow-burn romances, is interviewing herself. Well, kind of. Let me explain what happened. One of the other authors I have lined up for an interview and giveaway had to switch to a later date, so I thought: Why not post an interview with me? Since this is my blog, surely readers would be interested in hearing from me too.

But since I couldn’t very well interview myself, I had a couple of my readers and fellow lesbian fiction author Lee Winter provide the questions. So here are their questions and my answers. I hope you enjoy them.

As always, there’ll be a giveaway at the end. I’m giving away a signed copy of my two latest releases, Not the Marrying Kind and Paper Love , along with some other fun goodies, so make sure to leave a comment.

 

Please tell us a little about your latest release, Not the Marrying Kind .

Not the Marrying Kind is a romance set in a small town where everyone knows everyone else and gossip travels with the speed of light. One of the main characters, Ashley, is the owner of the town’s only flower shop. She’s also in the closet because she’s afraid to lose her customers and her conservative family, so she has decided to live her life alone.

Enter Sasha, the town’s easygoing six-foot baker, who’s Ashley’s exact opposite and doesn’t care at all what people think. When they are asked to work together for their friends’ wedding, they start to spend more time together…and soon, Sasha is tempting more than just Ashley’s sweet tooth.

 

Many writers use celebrity pictures to visualize their characters while they write. Is there a celebrity you used to create Sasha and Ashley from Not the Marrying Kind?

No, there isn’t. I’ve never modeled my characters after celebrities. In a lot of romance novels, all characters are perfect-looking. It works for some romances, if you are writing a celebrity romance, for example, but why would a baker and a florist need to look like supermodels?

I want my characters to be real and relatable. They are ordinary people…people who could be your friends. My characters will always be beautiful in the eyes of their significant other, but most of them don’t meet Hollywood’s standards of beauty.

Sasha is six foot tall and “big-boned,” as someone calls her in the story, while Ashley is the typical girl next door—pretty, but not model beautiful. She’s got green stains on her sneakers from her work in the flower shop, and she doesn’t spend hours putting on makeup in the morning. That’s actually part of what Sasha appreciates about her, because a high-maintenance woman wouldn’t fit into her life.

 

Not the Marrying Kind is book 2 in the Fair Oaks series, which started with Perfect Rhythm . Does that mean readers need to have read book 1 before reading Not the Marrying Kind?

No, it’s not strictly necessary to have read Perfect Rhythm. Like most of my series, each book in the Fair Oaks series has different main characters and can be read as a standalone.

I simply enjoy linking books and giving readers glimpses into the lives of the characters after their story ends, so Holly and Leo—whose story I told in Perfect Rhythm—are important supporting characters in Not the Marrying Kind. Lauren and Grace from Damage Control also make an appearance when the group of friends spend the weekend at a beach house in Florida for a bachelorette party.

 

If you were on an award committee and could give one of your characters an award, who would it be and for what?

Sasha from Not the Marrying Kind would get an award for her delicious cupcakes. She made key lime cupcakes for Ashley because she couldn’t stop thinking about their time in Florida, and I imagine they must have been very yummy.

 

Tell us a little about the second book you’re giving away, Paper Love . What makes it different from your other novels?

Most of all, the setting. Paper Love is set in Freiburg, the city where I live. Freiburg is a charming city with a history that reaches back to the twelfth century. There’s a lot of history and folklore, including the legend that says anyone who steps into a Bächle—one of the narrow water canals running through the streets—will end up marrying a local and live there forever.

And that’s exactly what happens to Susanne, one of the main characters. She’s a businesswoman who starts out as a bit of an ice queen but quickly thaws when she meets lovable nerd Anja.

 

You seem to write about two English full-length novels a year, and you also translate your books into German. What are your tricks to avoid burnout and writer’s block? Have you ever had either?

Luckily, I haven’t experienced either, although you’d think I would be a prime candidate for burnout since I not only write full-time, but I’m also the senior editor of Ylva Publishing, and I seem to have a problem saying “no” when fellow writers ask for help with their writing or marketing. If you work from home, it’s really not easy to maintain a good work/life balance, especially when your job is also your passion. But I’ve got no complaints. I like life as a writer much more than life as a psychologist, which was my previous job.

What helps me avoid writer’s block is outlining and getting to know my characters before I start writing a new novel. I usually plot out the major scenes and turning points of the book. That way, I always know what will happen next and don’t waste time staring at a blank page, figuring out what to write.

I also know each character’s backstory—what kind of family she grew up in, what previous relationships she has had, what events and circumstances made her who she is today—so I know exactly how each of my characters will react to what happens in the story.

 

What was the last gift you gave someone?

The last gift I gave was actually a birthday present for fellow lesfic writer Chris Zett. She uses fountain pens too, so I sent her some Australian ink and a paperback copy of The Emotion Thesaurus, a very helpful book for writers.

 

What holiday would you invent to get a day off work?

I would invent stay-in-bed-and-read day. It would actually be a three-day holiday because one day wouldn’t be enough to even start to catch up with my to-be-read list.

 

What was your favorite book as a child, and what are you reading right now?

My favorite book growing up was Tamora Pierce’s Alanna—or rather the entire Song of the Lioness series. It’s a fantasy/adventure story about a girl who disguises herself as a boy to become a knight. Finally a girl who got to be the hero! I devoured the book and the rest of the series, and I still have a hardback copy on my bookshelf.

Since I’m working on a new manuscript right now, I don’t have a lot of time to read, but I just bought the audiobook of Breaking Character by Lee Winter, and I know I’ll enjoy it because…well, it’s a Lee Winter book, and Angela Dawe always does a great job narrating.

 

When’s your next book coming out, and what are you working on right now?

My next releases will be the audiobook version of Next of Kin on May 28, then the audiobook of Falling Hard in June. I’ll also have a short story in the upcoming Ylva Publishing erotica anthology Laid Bare, which will be out in June, and my Oregon series will be available as a box set in July.

My next all-new novel will be the one I’m working on right now. It’s titled The Roommate Arrangement and will be out in November. I’m about two-thirds through the first draft, and I really think the main characters, Rae and Steph, are special together.

I’ll share an excerpt in my next reader newsletter, but for now, here’s the blurb:

After a year on the road, comedian Stephanie Renshaw returns to LA, hoping to finally get her big break. A chance encounter lands her the perfect apartment close to the comedy clubs, but it comes with a catch: the landlord only rents to couples. Since Steph isn’t the relationship type, she comes up with a daring plan: find a roommate who’s willing to pretend they’re an item.

Enter Rae Coleman, a former police officer working the door at one of the top comedy clubs. After losing one eye and her job with the LAPD, Rae guards her wounded soul behind a tough exterior.

At first, the two clash horribly before a tentative friendship develops. Bit by bit, Steph manages to break through the walls Rae has built around her.

But are they ready to open themselves up to love, especially when it could stand in the way of Steph’s career?

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

Right here on this website! Hehehe. The best way to keep up with my writing is to subscribe to my newsletter, which goes out to readers once a month.

 

 

Book giveaway

I’m giving away two book bundles:

A signed paperback copy of Not the Marrying Kind, plus a small cupcake notebook, a “donut worry, be happy” magnet, and a bar of Black Forest chocolate.

A signed paperback copy of Paper Love, plus a leather bookmark and a small notebook with a leather cover that has a Jae logo.

I’m willing to send the book bundles worldwide, so anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, please leave a comment on this blog post. If you have a preference as to which book bundle you’d like to win, let me know in the comment.

Entries close on Thursday, May 23, 2019, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random-numbers generator. I’ll notify the winners by email.

 

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Giveaway of lesbian romance novel “Recipe for Love” by Aurora Rey

This week’s interviewee is fellow lesbian romance author Aurora Rey, who has several books out with Bold Strokes Books, among them the popular Cape End Romances series. Aurora has just published her new f/f romance, Recipe for Love, and she’s giving away two e-book copies, so don’t miss the giveaway at the end of this post!

 

Welcome, Aurora. Please tell us a little about your newest release, Recipe for Love.

It’s a small town, foodie romance—two of my favorite things. It features a small-production farmer and a chef from New York City who team up on a farm-to-table restaurant launch in the Finger Lakes of upstate NY. Hannah, the farmer, is suspicious of the big city chef and Drew, the chef, can’t figure out why Hannah is so uptight. But, of course, they’re irresistibly attracted to one another at the same time.

 

The subtitle—A Farm-to-Table Romance—caught my attention and made me grin. How did you come up with it?

Recipe for Love could go in a lot of different directions. I wanted to hint at the specific foodie angle I was going for. It’s also a nod to one of the titles suggested by a writer friend of mine—Farm to Table to Bed.  No way was my publisher letting me get away with that, but I’m glad I got to channel the spirit of it.

 

There’s an ongoing debate in the publishing industry about whether white authors should write characters of color or not. How did you answer this question for yourself, and what do writers need to take into consideration when portraying a character outside of their own race?

It’s definitely a complicated issue. I think we have a lot of work to do on amplifying and making space for authors of color, in romance and in literature in general. Still, I don’t think writing only and all white characters does anything to help that. Improving diversity in fiction is a both/and situation. For white authors, I think we need to be mindful of how we write characters of color, do our homework, and make sure we’re going above and beyond to avoid perpetuating stereotypes.

 

There are four books in your Cape End Romances series now. (Wow, I have some catching up to do!) Did you plan from the start to make it a series? What connects these books?

Winter’s Harbor was my very first published novel. I didn’t intend for it to be part of a series, but the allure of Provincetown is strong. When I decided to set more books there, creating a collection tied to the seasons seemed like a fun undertaking. Each is a standalone romance, but the characters spill from one book to the next. The final three are much more intertwined, but the Winter’s Harbor characters get to cameo, too.

 

Summer’s Cove was one of the books I read for Book Bingo last year, and it has some pretty hot love scenes. Do you enjoy writing love scenes? Any tips for authors who find them hard to write?

I really do! That said, I find I have to be in the mood—at least willing to get into a sexy frame of mind. I find it helps to figure out what the scene needs to accomplish. Contrary to what some critics might say, in a romance, the sex is never just thrown in for the sake of being there. The other tip would be to get the mechanics right first, then go back in and layer the thoughts and feelings. You don’t have to get it all on the first pass.

 

A lot of your books are small-town romances. What’s the appeal of writing about small towns for you?

I grew up in a small town and I both loved and hated it. I appreciate the connections, the security of folks knowing and looking out for each other, the quiet. They can be conservative, though, and stifling for those who don’t fit in. Writing small towns lets me craft them the way I want to be—not always full-on progressive, but safe spaces teeming with queer people who are living their lives without fear or shame.

 

Can you tell us about one thing that is on your bucket list?

I definitely have the DIY bug, although most of my projects are pretty modest. I would love to fully rehab an old farmhouse one day. I don’t need to do all the work myself, but I want my hand in every piece of it.

 

Food seems to be another common theme in your novels. If you could reinvent the food pyramid without any detrimental effects to your health, what would it look like?

Bread, cheese, and wine. In that order. And then chocolate. Honestly, I adore fruits and vegetables, too, so maybe I’d just tweak the recommended daily servings.

 

You said reading romance novels is your preferred guilty pleasure. So, what are your top 5 favorite lesbian romances?

With so many friends and colleagues in the genre, that feels like an impossible question! I’m going to put in a plug for Maggie Cummings’s Bay West series because I think it didn’t get the attention it deserved. I recently swooned over Nell Stark’s The Princess Deception. Books I’d go back to again and again include Winds of Fortune by Radclyffe and At Her Feet by Rebekah Weatherspoon. Finally, I only recently discovered Alyssa Cole. Her Once Ghosted, Twice Shy novella is smart, funny, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

 

When’s your next book coming out, and what are you working on right now?

I’ve got one coming out in October—The Inn at Netherfield Green—and a novella in the December Hot Ice collection, both from Bold Strokes Books. The former is about an advertising executive who inherits a pub in the English countryside and the gin distiller who reluctantly helps her relaunch it. The novella is a pair of roller derby rivals who find themselves on the same team. I’m working on a small town reunion romance right now, called The Last Place You Look. I’ve been saying Recipe for Love is my favorite, but this one might just take the prize.

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

I post about my books and do the occasional blog at aurorarey.com. All of my book info, including the first chapter or two of every title, is available at boldstrokesbooks.com.

Thank you so much for inviting me to chat with you! It’s been a real treat!

 

Book giveaway

Aurora is graciously giving away two e-book copies of her new release, Recipe for Love.

Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog post.

Entries close on Thursday, May 16, 2019, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

 

There’ll be more author interviews, giveaways, and free books this year. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of them, please subscribe to my blog.

 

The post Giveaway of lesbian romance novel “Recipe for Love” by Aurora Rey appeared first on Jae.

Interview with lesbian romance author Lynn Galli and a free book!

This week’s interviewee is Lynn Galli , one of the pioneer indie authors of lesbian fiction. Lynn is the author of the popular Virginia Clan series and the Aspen Friends series, and she also penned several standalone romances.

Lynn has a wonderful sense of humor that shines through in her books as well as in her interview answers, and she did something fun and unexpected with this interview too: she interviewed me right back! Those will be the parts of the interview in blue, so you can more easily keep track of who’s saying what.

Lynn also has another surprise for you: She’s offering her novella Out of Order for free for a few days, so don’t miss the link at the end of this post.

But first, on to the interview!

 

Welcome, Lynn. Please tell us a little about Out of Order, the book you are offering for free today.

It’s a light-hearted romance novella set among the inner workings of a municipality with a little bribery scandal tossed in. No angsty insecurities, drama-filled misunderstandings, or unresolved issues with tempting exes, just a lively and real connection between two independent women who weren’t looking for love.

 

Out of Order started out as a short story. What made you decide to expand on Lindsay’s story?

Demanding, impatient, unsatisfied readers (not that there’s anything wrong with them!). Lindsay’s short was part of an anthology I published with Willa and Quinn’s romantic start. Readers badgered and asked for more of Willa and Quinn (because I’d stupidly hinted their short story was part of an unpublished book.) So, my spineless self relented and rewrote much of the unpublished book to give Willa and Quinn stalkers their due. That left Lindsay and Suzanne out on their own in an ocean of now blank pages no longer filling out their anthology. I had to do right by them, too.

 

Your latest novel, Speak Low , is set in Scotland. Have you ever been to Scotland? If you have, what impressed you most? If you haven’t, what kind of research did you do to get the setting right?

Haven’t been there yet, but I’m hoping to visit this fall. (Of course, I said the same thing last fall and ended up going to a destination wedding instead. A. Destination. Wedding. Who does that to their family or friends? And why? Really, why? A wedding that costs you money to attend? For a cynic like me, that’s just wrong, and yet, I had to go to avoid being considered an asshole if I didn’t. Anyway, I spent my vacation time last year on that. This year, no one I know is getting married, so fingers crossed that I’ll get to choose my own vacation.

For research on Edinburgh, Google maps is a horribly invasive but useful tool to get a glimpse of street views. Mix in several (or several dozen if that doesn’t make me sound too nerdy) fiction books set in Scotland, including Val McDermid’s addictively disturbing cold case series, and add all the BBC, ITV, and STV shows set in Scotland, and you can get a pretty good feel for the place. Plus, the story’s main backdrop is a university campus. They tend to be pretty universal throughout the world. I hope I did the country justice.

 

Question for Jae: Did you travel any part of the Oregon Trail before writing your gem, Backwards to Oregon ? You brought the terrain and feel of the journey to life without having traveled it in a wagon. 

Jae: Actually, I wrote Backwards to Oregon before I ever set foot in the US. I have visited the end of the Oregon Trail in 2014, but when I did my research, I relied on nonfiction books, old newspapers, documentaries, maps, and cookbooks from the 1850s. The most useful research material were diaries from emigrants traveling the Oregon Trail and the letters they sent east to their loved ones. They included fascinating details about life in covered wagons and the dangers of the long journey west.

 

 

Which of your books would you say is your biggest success and why?

Probably Wasted Heart because it’s my first. After writing manuscripts in the suspense and mystery genres for many years and trying to get noticed by mainstream publishers, Wasted Heart was my second attempt at a romance. My first attempt resulted in a complicated and unsatisfying contract negotiation with a lesfic publisher. If I hadn’t written another romance while going through that, I might have abandoned the whole publishing endeavor. Seeing WH in print, on sale, and knowing it was being read by someone other than me, it felt like a decent accomplishment.

 

You’ve been one of the pioneers of self-publishing in the lesbian fiction community. How has indie publishing changed since you started out?

Pioneer sounds so weighty, especially since I never intended to self-publish, much less start an indie publishing company. In 2006, there weren’t many writers going out on their own in this genre. Hell, there weren’t many lesfic titles available back then either. E-books were virtually nonexistent and only available through the publisher’s website. Kindle, Apple books, Smashwords, Kobo, and Google books didn’t launch for another couple years, and most offered lousy royalties to start. (Is this beginning to sound like one of those I-had-to-walk-ten-miles-a-day-through-four-feet-of-snow-to-get-to-school kind of story? Well, too bad, suffer through it.) As for the indie publishing industry, it didn’t exist. If you wanted to self-publish, most writers chose either vanity presses or POD publishers because ISBNs were not sold individually, cover making and interior formatting software was pricey, and distribution options were limited without being attached to a publishing company. It took another few years before those resources were available and cost-effective, which allowed authors to break away from the POD package model to publish independently.

Today, self-published authors can find a range of affordable services with POD publishers. Indie authors who want more flexibility can form their own publishing companies with reasonable startup expenses. Or many in our genre forgo print publishing and choose digital-only distributors/retailers for their titles. For writers who have the ability to promote their own titles, which is necessary whether or not you publish on your own, taking the self/indie publishing route is often more lucrative than choosing a publishing house. Going through the publishing process independently isn’t for everyone, but it can be very satisfying.

In regard to sales, more than half of the lesbian fiction books on Amazon’s Top 100 are self or indie published these days. When I started, you could count on one hand the number of self-published titles available, and maybe one made it onto the Top 100. Probably the biggest change in indie publishing is how it’s greatly responsible for allowing a wider variety of authors to offer more content in all genres, not just ours.

 

You have a fantastic, smart-ass sense of humor. (Yes, that’s a compliment). Readers, if you haven’t already, check out this hilarious Q&A on Lynn’s website. Lynn, which of your characters is most like you in the sense of humor department?

Thank you for that. Smart-ass is my default setting, but I’ve found it’s not always appreciated and certainly not 24/7, which is why none of my characters are anywhere near as snarky or flippant as my Q&A responses. With the Q&A, I get to select only the questions to which I can provide a smart-ass reply before posting. You can’t really do that in everyday life; although it might be fun to tell someone, “Nope, I can’t think of a humorous response to that, so move along, peasant. I will not be conversing with you today.”

If I had to pin someone with the smart-ass label, I’d go with either Molly from Life Rewired, who is both funny and has a nice sense of humor, or Vega from Clichéd Love, whose humor is more biting due to the premise of the book. My sense of humor isn’t as good natured as Molly’s, nor as sharpened as Vega’s. It’s somewhere in between.

 

Any fun facts you care to share about yourself?

Well, let me think. I’ve never climbed Mount Everest, played ice hockey in Madison Square Garden, herded llamas or alpacas, made a wallet out of duct tape, escaped from a straight jacket while dangling upside down over a water tank, broken up a drug-smuggling ring at the border, caught a fish with my bare hands, attempted to follow Julia Child’s recipe for beef bourguignon, or competed in anything with the word “extreme” in its title. However, I have climbed Lombard Street, played basketball at Key Arena, herded cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, and small children, used duct tape to seal a leaky pipe, gotten out of a jacuzzi wearing a clingy swim suit, inadvertently broken up a drug deal being conducted by a neighbor, caught a foul ball with my bare hands, watched Meryl Streep play Julia Child, and feel the word “extreme” is overused when it comes to competitions. Oh, and I write, which is not so much a fun fact as it is a boring fact that produces something fun.

 

If your friends and family got a call telling them you were arrested, with no further explanation, what would they assume you had done?

Oh, wicked question, Jae. I should so lie to keep readers from thinking less of me, but as you can probably tell by my Q&A, most of my family and friends would not be surprised to learn I’d done any number of things to get myself arrested. I think their first assumption would be I’d mouthed off to the point that an officer would have no choice but to cuff me to get me to stop with the smart-ass commentary. After that, a wide range of possibilities would come to mind, including but not limited to: money laundering for anyone other than my drug-dealing, former neighbor, siphoning funds from an alt-right SuperPAC to organizations like Planned Parenthood and HRC, stealing a cat from a cat hording neighbor, hacking the website of a certain fast-food chicken place to rename all of their sandwiches to something overtly gay-themed, selling birth control pills on the sly to the employees of another world-ruining craft corporation that somehow won a Supreme Court case to allow them to follow their religious beliefs despite being a public corporation and not a person, or hauling off and smacking any number of irksome people who, well, irk me. I cannot confirm nor deny my participation in any of these allegedly criminal activities for which I may or may not have been arrested at any time over the past year, year and a half.

 

Question for Jae: What about you? You seem like you have a bit of devious in you.

Jae: I think my family and friends would assume I got arrested because of some accidental stupidity on my part, not so much because of some clever scheme. I have a horrible (or rather non-existent) sense of orientation, so they would probably think I got myself in trouble by accidentally entering a no-access area of an airport or something like that.

 

What types of books do you like to read? Any favorites you can recommend?

Mysteries are my favorite and have been since I was a kid. Paranormal, thrillers, suspense, romance, and fantasy for fiction. History is my addiction of choice for nonfiction. You can’t go wrong with anything by Kim Harrison, Donald E. Westlake, Lisa Scottoline, Helen Harper, MaryJanice Davidson, Thomas Perry, Matthew Reilly, and Zoë Sharp.

Top of my list in lesfic are Gun Brooke, D. Jackson Leigh, and Jae, and I’m not just saying that because it’s your interview. I don’t even bother reading the descriptions before purchasing your books. Others I like are A.E. Radley, AJ Adair, Cara Malone, G Benson, Georgia Beers, Jenny Frame, Melissa Brayden, Nell Stark, Rachel Spangler, Ronica Black, Tracey Richardson, and VK Powell just to name a few, or a dozen. Oh, and I just discovered Lee Winter by reading a four-book series of which she was one of the authors. I liked it so much I promptly bought all her others. Stumbling across an author through a random connection to another book or because of an excellent narrator opening my ears to other author’s audiobooks is a wonderful treasure hunt.

 

When’s your next book coming out, and what are you working on right now?

That’s probably the best thing about being an indie publisher, no deadlines, just pressure from readers. I hope to have something out in late summer, but no guarantees. Unfortunately, I have a RJ, which often gets in the way of finishing books. Usually summers are light on the work schedule, but recently, special projects get thrown my way and tangle up all my free time.

Currently, three unfinished manuscripts are sitting on my laptop. A paranormal mystery is slowly being transformed into a paranormal romance but keeps getting pushed to the side for other stories that pop into my head. Half of a new Aspen book taunts me every time I sit down to write, but I can’t seem to jump back into it. For now, I’m trying to concentrate on finishing the next in the Scottish Charm series. We’ll see how long that holds my attention.

 

Question for Jae: What are you working on right now, and do you jump around from story to story like I do?

Jae: Isn’t it interesting how differently authors work? I prefer to focus on one set of characters at a time and to really dive deep into their personalities and backstories, so I never work on several books at the same time. Well, other than having several books in different production stages, that is. At the moment, I’m celebrating the release of my latest romance, Not the Marrying Kind, and working on the first draft of a romance novel titled The Roommate Agreement. It’s about Steph, Claire’s comedian sister from Just for Show.

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

My house or my workplace. Stop by anytime. That won’t be weird or creepy or stalkerish at all. Most of my readers know I’m an open book, like having my picture taken, adore posting all my comings and goings online, and cherish sharing every personal thing about myself on every social media platform. For new readers, the best bet is to check out my website for the latest (or any) news about me and my books.

Thanks, Jae, this has been fun. I can now add to my list of fun facts about myself: I enjoy interviews with Jae.

 

Get your free copy of Out of Order by Lynn Galli

Lynn is offering her novella Out of Order for free for a few days!

The book will be free on Amazon only until Monday, April 22, 2019, 11:59 p.m. PDT, so make sure you download it right away.

 

Oh, and while you’re on Amazon: You might want to pre-order my brand-new romance Not the Marrying Kind, which tells the story of Ashley, a small-town florist who falls in love with an easygoing 6-foot baker while they work a lesbian wedding together.

 

Happy reading, everyone!

Jae

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Interview with lesbian fiction author Cara Malone and a free book!

This week’s interview guest is Cara Malone, a lesfic-loving indie author whose work includes bestselling medical romance The Origins of Heartbreak. Today, Cara has a wonderful surprise for you readers: She’s offering the ebook version of her contemporary fairy tale Cinders for free.

It won’t stay free forever, though, so if you want your own copy, go ahead and download it from Amazon right away—and read on to find out more about the book and Cara’s other work.

 

 

Please tell us a little about Cinders, the book you are offering for free today.

It’s a modern retelling of Cinderella in which the title character, Cyn, is a firefighter and her dream girl, Marigold, is a socialite who barely knows she exists. When an arsonist sets Marigold’s prized garden on fire, Cyn comes to the rescue. The two of them join forces to find the firebug and the…ahem…sparks fly.

 

Cinders is a modern, lesbian adaption of Cinderella, and you also gave the Red Riding Hood story a new spin in Seeing Red. What’s the appeal of fairy tales for you?

I think the Disney versions are something that a lot of us grew up on so they’re familiar, but maybe not so relatable. I wanted to flip the “handsome prince” character for lesfic readers, and I also badly wanted to get rid of the “damsel in distress” trope in favor of strong female characters.

 

Cyn, the main character of Cinders, is a firefighter. How did you come up with that idea?

I started with the original fairy tale—Cinderella is a nickname given by her stepmother because she’s forced to sleep in the ashes of the fireplace to keep warm. I wanted to keep the connection to fire, but give the character a lot more power over her situation.

 

Which of your books are you most proud of and why?

The Rulebook series (beginning with The Rules of Love) grabbed people in a way that I wasn’t expecting when I wrote it. I have a number of friends and one past partner on the autism spectrum, but I myself am not, so I was nervous about doing justice to a character like Max. The response to her was overwhelmingly positive and Ruby and Max are some of my most-beloved characters—both personally and among my readers.

 

You write a series of medical romance novels. What kind of research did you have to do for the Lakeside Hospital series?

Lucky for me, both of my parents are in medicine and I’ve been able to ask them lots of questions. My dad worked for the coroner’s office for many years, and I’ve actually gotten to observe autopsies, which inspired the meet cute in The Origins of Heartbreak. My mom helped a lot with the details in Labor of Love since she was a pediatric nurse. For the education details, I did a lot of lurking on medical school forums!

 

Raven, the main character of your romance Trail Magic, is a cancer survivor. What kind of feedback did you get for that from readers?

A lot of women reached out to tell me how the book resonated with their own experiences with breast cancer or that of their loved ones. I am always honored to hear when readers are able to relate to my characters, especially with such a personal and difficult subject. I really wanted Raven to be a strong, inspiring character.

 

What was the last TV show you binge-watched?

I just discovered Shark Tank even though it’s been on for a decade. It appeals to the part of my brain that’s always looking for million-dollar ideas but never has the time to execute them—letting someone else do the work while I sit on the couch with my bunnies and watch is the best of both worlds.

 

If you were a cookie, what kind would you be and why?

Gosh, this shouldn’t be as hard as it is! I guess I’ll go with fortune cookie since this question feels like a test—simple on the outside, a hard one to crack, with more on the inside than meets the eye. There—the armchair psychologists who are reading can have fun with that!

 

Do you have time to read? Any favorite lesfic or f/f books you can recommend?

I always make time to read—audiobooks are a lifesaver because I can multitask while I’m reading. Some of my favorite lesfic reads are As Long as Love Lasts by Jea Hawkins, The Chosen One by TB Markinson, and Close Enough to Touch by Cade Brogan.

 

When’s your next book coming out, and what are you working on right now?

My next book is the latest Sapphic Fairy Tale, Fairest, coming in April. It’s a contemporary retelling of Snow White, and holy cow, did I ever underestimate how hard it would be to write such a large cast with Snow White’s love interest and her six overprotective, slightly jealous brothers. It’s been a lot of fun, though!

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

I hang out in the Lesfic Slack chat pretty much every day; I’m on Twitter, Facebook, and BookBub @CaraMaloneBooks, and readers can find my reading order and other book details on my website at www.caramalone.com. Thanks for having me, Jae!

 

There’ll be a new author interview and another free book for you to download in two weeks.

Either check back or subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it.

 

 

The post Interview with lesbian fiction author Cara Malone and a free book! appeared first on Jae.

Giveaway of several lesbian romance novels by Gerri Hill

If you follow my blog, you know I’m doing a series of author interviews, each one with a giveaway or a free book for readers to enjoy.

This week’s interviewee is veteran lesbian fiction author Gerri Hill, who just published her 35th lesbian novel, Moonlight Avenue.

Gerri is giving away several e-book and audiobook copies of her lesbian romances, so don’t miss the giveaway at the end of this post!

 

Please tell us a little about your newest release, Moonlight Avenue.

It’s about an ex-cop turned private investigator (Finley Knight) who gets mixed up in a murder investigation. There’s chaos, crime, corruption and cover-ups! And yes, there is romance brewing too!

 

It sounds as if Moonlight Avenue has not just two, but three strong female main characters. How did you make sure you gave each of them enough bonding time with the reader—and with each other? And which of these characters did you bond with the most?

Yes, three strong women in this one. Finn is the main character and she drives the book but her relationship with the other two (Dee and Rylee) is what makes her human. The three interact with each other enough—alone and as a group—that I think the reader will get a good sense of what each woman is about. I usually bond or have a favorite character in every book, but this one, it’s hard for me to pick one. Maybe because there’s three to choose from! That being said, I had the most affection for Finn, based on her past.

 

Finley Knight in Moonlight Avenue is a solitary, brooding private investigator—a character that could easily turn into a bit of a stereotype. Could you name one thing about her that would surprise readers, whether that detail made it into the story or not?

Finn’s solitary life has nothing to do with a lost love or fear of love….it has everything to do with her parents.

 

You have a very impressive backlist—if I counted correctly, Moonlight Avenue is novel number 34 for you! For anyone just discovering your work, which book would you recommend they start with?

Actually, Moonlight Avenue is number 35! When people ask me where to start, I always tell them to start at the beginning. The first published with Bella Books was Gulf Breeze. While I don’t write sequels very often (in fact, none of my romances are a sequel), I do occasionally have characters pop in from one book to another. While it’s not necessary to read them in order (unless it’s part of a series, like Hunter’s Way), I would think it would be helpful to have met the characters previously.

 

What are you most proud of having achieved in your writing career?

I think the longevity. When I first started writing, I thought maybe I could do eight or ten books. Writing for ten years was almost unthinkable. I’m approaching twenty years and thirty-five books. Mindboggling to think about!

 

If you could go back and change one thing in any of your books, what would it be and why?

I try very hard not to dwell on past books…at least not in that sense of changing them…because I can’t!  Now, if we were talking “do over,” it would be One Summer Night, my very first book! My writing was so bad in that one, it makes me cringe to think about!

 

As a writer who writes full-time, with so many books published, how do you keep your stories fresh, relatable, and relevant?

I haven’t changed my method at all. I still write for me. I still write stories that I find interesting, that I enjoy. I have always taken the approach that if I’m not loving what I’m writing, then anyone reading it will be able to tell. After 35 books, it’s really hard to maintain a freshness in the characters so I try to make them as real as possible, along with having a real fault or two…while still being likable! At the end of the book, I hope my readers feel like I do…that they are saying goodbye to friends.

 

Here’s a very important question that one of my readers suggested I ask: How do you put on your shoes and socks? Sock shoe, sock shoe or sock, sock, shoe, shoe?

That would be “it depends,” but usually it’s sock shoe, sock shoe!

 

Several of your books are available as audiobooks. Do you listen to audiobooks, and if you do, are there any you particularly enjoyed?

I don’t have time to listen to audiobooks, unfortunately. I do make a point to listen to my own books because it helps me identify patterns in my writing. Something about hearing it out loud rather than seeing it in print, I guess.

 

When’s your next book coming out, and what are you working on right now?

The next one is a romance, After the Summer Rain, due out in August. It’s a sweet, feel-good romance, at least to me! I’m currently working on a murder mystery involving a serial killer that will be out in 2020.

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

My website is gerrihill.com, and I most always post news about releases and audiobooks on Facebook.

 

Book giveaway

Gerri has graciously agreed to do a big giveaway, so there’ll be several lucky winners.

 

You can win:

2 e-book copies of Moonlight Avenue
4 Audible.com codes for the audiobook version of Moonlight Avenue
1 Audible.com code for Sawmill Springs
1 Audible.com code for The Secret Pond
1 Audible.com code for The Locket
1 Audible.com code for The Neighbor

 

Anyone can enter, but if you want to win one of the audiobooks, you need to be able to access Audible.com (US). To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog.

Entries close on Thursday, April 4, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

 

There’ll be more author interviews, giveaways, and free books this year. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of them, please subscribe to my blog.

The post Giveaway of several lesbian romance novels by Gerri Hill appeared first on Jae.

Giveaway of lesbian “fake relationship” romance “Breaking Character” by Lee Winter

This week’s guest in my series of lesbian fiction author interviews is fellow Ylva Publishing author and evil mastermind Lee Winter, who penned the unique Requiem for Immortals and the popular On the Record series, featuring one of my favorite fictional ice queens. Lee is also giving away an ebook copy of her latest lesbian romance, Breaking Character, so don’t miss the giveaway at the end of this post!

 

Welcome, Lee. Please tell us a little bit about your newest release, Breaking Character .

Elizabeth Thornton, a British actress and infamous villain in a US medical show, can’t stand her vapid job and is dying to do a powerful, serious arthouse film that’s on offer. Due to a series of unfortunate events, her co-star, breezy LA girl Summer Hayes, gets romantically linked to her, earning Elizabeth’s wrath.

Things gets crazy when Elizabeth discovers that in order to secure her dream film role, she has to convince Summer to pretend to be her girlfriend.

The two actresses don’t seem to have too much in common, so Elizabeth thinks it’s all utterly ludicrous. But it turns out they have far more in common than they both realize…and not just the fact they’re both closeted lesbians.

I had an absolute blast writing this novel. It also helped having the services of a Hollywood actress (Kay Aston) as a beta reader. A lot of people in LA have commented on the authenticity of it, which has been wonderful.

 

After The Brutal Truth , Breaking Character is your second contemporary romance. How is the writing process different in comparison to more plot/adventure-driven stories such as The Red Files or Requiem for Immortals , and what challenges did you face when writing romance novels?

The amount of plot points and the chronology of events I have to keep in my head to do a non-romance, like Red Files or Requiem, is staggering. Since I do love adding lots of layers and plot twists to such novels, I’m not kidding. It’s mentally exhausting. With a romance, the plots tend to be a lot more straightforward, and you don’t tend to hide too much till the end. It’s usually all out there.

Also, the sheer amount of research required for Requiem and Red Files (and its sequel Under Your Skin) was extensive. You can’t just wing that level of detail. You have to know for a fact how things work at a deeper level, or a complex plot loses authenticity. I was forever stress-testing my stories for plot holes, too, asking myself if I’d let any structural errors in.

 

Was there anything that you edited out of Breaking Character?

I went back and forth on this one thing. Originally, I allowed Elizabeth’s former friend Grace to redeem herself a little in the epilogue. There’s an internship on offer at the end of the book, and originally, I had Grace provide a glowing verbal reference to Dame Margaret, so it could happen. But I decided to delete that because then the end became all about Grace, which I’m sure she would have liked (LOL), but that’s not where I wanted to end my book. It needed to be about Summer and Elizabeth and their place in the world, not going over old wounds or lost friendships.

 

What would the main characters of Breaking Characters have to say about you?

What an interesting question. Summer is nice about everyone who isn’t mean, so I think she’d be generous and thank me for portraying her kindly. Elizabeth would be very suspicious. She’d be eying me up for a hidden agenda, especially since I’m a former journalist. She’d probably ask whether I HAD to include that confronting kiss in Palm Springs with you-know-who. Sorry, Bess. You know I did.

 

In a (not necessarily physical) fight between Natalya Tsvetnenko from Requiem for Immortals and Catherine Ayers from The Red Files, who would win and why?

I think it’s obvious that in a physical fight, a veteran assassin (Natalya) would have a soft journalist (Catherine) for breakfast. In a verbal confrontation, Catherine would argue circles around Natalya, as she’s both smart and acerbic and often steps ahead of everyone else. Natalya, who rarely verbally spars with anyone, would come away totally impressed. Possibly turned on! She’d probably leave her alive for that alone.

 

Speaking of fight… If you were a professional wrestler, what would your ring name be?

Apostrophe Girl. (I can’t stand it when people leave them out.) Yes, I’m aware of how tragic that sounds.

 

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever googled for book research?

I have three:

Whether cone snails can be used to kill humans. Thanks to Google, I did manage to track down the world’s foremost researcher on cone snails, a Queensland scientist, who disappeared as soon as I asked about cone snail venom applications on humans. I don’t really blame him. The “I’m just an author” line sounds a little too convenient…

What are the most effective and/or unorthodox methods of killing someone. I regret googling that a great deal, as I found a discussion post about it, and everyone was making joking suggestions, as you’d expect… but then this one super creepy guy waded in with very specific, chilling/gross information that sounded far too knowledgeable and intimate, involving a technique to do with the throat. I’ve never seen so many tough keyboard warriors squeal and nope out of a conversation in my life. I’m not surprised. It was beyond awful. Still shuddering even now.

How an American can evade extradition and which countries he might flee to. This was for Under Your Skin. Funnily enough, this query got me all these warnings from strangers to “be careful”. I’m not sure if they doubted that I was an author and assumed I was planning to skip countries, but they definitely all feared the US government would be on to me for my queries. They were very serious in that they believed I’d be spied on for my Google history.

 

You celebrated your two-year anniversary as a full-time writer in November 2018. What’s the hardest thing about writing full-time? What’s the best thing? And was there something that surprised you about life as a full-time writer?

Hardest: The solitude. I really miss my work friends.

Best: The freedom. I can write. I can do chores. I can mix and match. I can work late or early or anything that suits me.

Surprised me: How much writing takes over your brain when it’s your main and only job. I think about my stories 24/7 just about. It’s sinister in a way. It’s like sleepwalking because you’re in two states of existence constantly. I pity all writing widows/widowers having to live with a writer. Are we ever fully there? Probably best if they don’t answer that.

 

What makes a good novel?

Ah, I love this question because it’s such good debate material. In fact, I had this debate about fifteen years ago with a colleague who was the literary editor at my newspaper. She was tasked with writing a Top Fifty Authors of All Time list. Now my friend was lovely but a complete book snob. All the classics were on her list. No one too modern or too mainstream, so I challenged her. How can you write this list and not include J.K. Rowling, I asked.

She was scandalized and hurled many, many insults at the Harry Potter author’s perceived lack of abilities. I argued, in turn, that Rowling should be included because she introduced tens of thousands of non-readers to reading, including boys, who traditionally don’t like to read (or be seen to be reading). I know one dad who believes she’s a complete genius because his developmentally challenged son, who could barely read, was able to get to grips with reading because his love of Harry Potter got him through the books.

I think that even if you hate every word she’s written, Rowling has reshaped or at least reinvigorated the reading world for children. That’s no small feat.

So, in answer to the question: Personally, and this might be just me, but I think a good novel is above all else a gripping page-turner. It doesn’t have to have the best prose or most skillfully drawn-out characters. It has to make a reader inspired to burn through it, maybe even right through the night until their eyes ache. That’s a good novel. That’s what I always aim to write. What’s the point of a gloriously elegant book of prose that’s too boring to get through?

Postscript: I won the debate with my literary editor friend. She (begrudgingly) included Rowling in her list, albeit with a few snooty caveats about why she was there!

 

When’s your next book coming out, and what are you working on right now?

First up, I’m working on a novel from the Breaking Character universe starring Alex, the indie film director, then it’s a fire v ice queens romance novel set in the world of hotel management.

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

I have a website, and I’m on Facebook and Twitter as @leewinteroz.

 

Book giveaway

Lee Winter is giving away an ebook copy of her latest lesbian romance novel, Breaking Character. Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog.

Entries close on Thursday, March 21, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

There’ll be more author interviews, giveaways, and free books this year. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of them, please subscribe to my blog.

 

The post Giveaway of lesbian “fake relationship” romance “Breaking Character” by Lee Winter appeared first on Jae.

Book giveaway of lesbian romance “Drawing the Line” by K.D. Williamson

The fourth guest in my series of lesbian fiction author interviews is K.D. Williamson, who’s best-known for her Cops and Docs series. K.D. is giving away an ebook copy of the latest book in the series, Drawing the Line , so make sure you don’t miss the giveaway at the end of this post.

 

Please tell us a little about your newest release, Drawing the Line.

Drawing the Line is book 4 in the Cops and Docs series, and it’s a second chance romance that doesn’t necessarily fit the common definition. It’s very emotional, and on the one hand, deals with the baggage left over after a bad break up. On the other hand, it’s an intense look at how there is a very thin line between love and hate.

 

One of the main characters in Drawing the Line is a pediatric resident, the other one is a detective in the juvenile missing persons unit. What kind of research did you have to do for this book?

I didn’t want to bog the book down with extreme detail of either. I did some research online and consulted Chris Zett, who corrected a lot of my misconceptions about the residency programs and diseases.

 

Your Cops & Docs series was very successful. What do you think draws readers to stories about doctors and women in uniform?

Well, they are professional, strong, opinionated women. I think readers love seeing the vulnerabilities, the humor, and the other characteristics that can make them down-to-earth.

 

Which of the characters in all of your books do you most relate to, and why?

I’d say Kelli McCabe and Haley Jordan. I’m a combination of asshole and geek.

 

Is there a genre or a topic that you haven’t yet written but would like to try in the future?

I would love to world-build like what’s done in sci-fi or even try my hand at an all-out comedy.

 

If you could go back and change one thing in your Cops & Docs series, what would it be and why?

I actually wouldn’t change a thing. I’m more than satisfied with how they all turned out.

 

Can you name one thing that is lurking on your writing desk that shouldn’t be there?

There seems to always be a bag of Doritos. They seem to just fall out of the sky.

 

What’s your favorite TV show of all time, and why?

I don’t have an all-time fav, but recently, I binged Timeless and was blown away by the diversity, the writing, and the characters. I love its take on history and its all around geekiness. I’m saddened that it didn’t catch on.

 

What types of books do you like to read? Any favorites you can recommend?

I like books with grit and some realism or so I’m learning. I find that I’m not all that satisfied with a straight-up romance. As for my favs, I don’t get to read a lot so I don’t have any yet except for Wild by Meghan O’Brien.

 

When’s your next book coming out, and what are you working on right now?

Hopefully, it will be out this year. I just turned in the first draft. Since Drawing the Line is at times angsty, I decided to go a different route with this one. It has more humor, more heat.

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

KD’s website

Twitter

Facebook author page

Ylva Publishing

 

Book giveaway

K.D. is giving away an ebook copy of Drawing the Line. Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog.

Entries close on Thursday, March 7, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

There’ll be more author interviews, giveaways, and free books this year. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of them, please subscribe to my blog.

 

 

The post Book giveaway of lesbian romance “Drawing the Line” by K.D. Williamson appeared first on Jae.

Book giveaway of “A Woman Undone” by T.B. Markinson

The third guest in my series of interviews with fellow authors of lesbian fiction is T.B. Markinson, an American writer living in England.    A Woman Undone , the latest book in the A Woman Lost series, is about to be published, and T.B. is giving away three ebook copies of the book.

 

Welcome, T.B. Please tell us a little about A Woman Undone.

It’s the sixth book in the A Woman Lost series, and the previous book, A Woman Loved, ended with quite a cliffhanger. Lizzie has a unique family (read crazy), and while she’s doing her best to live a happy life with her wife and twins, her family causes so many problems. And the clueless Lizzie does her best to navigate the issues in Lizzie style, which means she makes many comical blunders.

 

When you wrote the first book in the A Woman Lost series, did you know it would become a series? What kind of planning did you do?

When I released A Woman Lost, book 1, back in 2013, I had no idea readers would fall in love with Lizzie. I didn’t have a series planned, but that’s what happened. One of the comments I receive the most from readers is they feel a connection to Lizzie. As a writer, that makes all the stress of producing a unique story worth it.

 

The A Woman Lost series has a very strong family theme. What does family mean to you personally, and what kind of message do you want your readers to take away from the series?

Lizzie has a difficult family situation, and what she learns over the years is family is what you make of it. Meaning family can be created not only from those related by blood, but friends who stand by you through thick and thin. I think it’s vital for people to find their own family, especially if their blood relatives aren’t supportive. There are so many good people in the world. Surround yourself with positive people to become the best person you can be.

 

Valentine’s Day is coming up next week. What was the most romantic scene you ever wrote?

Oh geez, that’s a tough one. The first chapter of The Fall Girl, the second book in The Miracle Girl series, comes to mind. JJ popped the question to Claire after they climbed to the top of Mount Kinabulu, a mountain in Malaysia, to view the sunrise.

 

Do you have any quirky writing rituals or habits?

I’m not sure I do. I can’t wake up and jump right into writing like many authors. I have to make a cup of tea and clear some admin tasks off my plate, or I can’t concentrate on the story I’m working on.

Oh, before I start a novel, the idea has to sit with me for weeks. I spend a lot of time going for walks, letting ideas percolate. I’ll jot down notes, but I won’t actually write until I feel confident I can finish it. When I finally start, I have a decent idea where the story will go. But then, the characters hijack it, and even I’m surprised by what happens.

 

You wrote several series, among them the A Woman Lost series. What’s the appeal of a series for you? What is harder to write in comparison to a standalone novel?

I never intended to write so many series, but readers requested them and they’re my bosses. I like the challenge of fitting all the pieces and characters into complicated story arcs, all the while keeping everything fresh. I’m the type who loves to tackle puzzles. The harder the better.

As for standalones, a writer is a bit limited by how much she can delve into the entire backstory. I’m a firm believer that emotions and actions are based on many revolving parts that keep evolving. And I love to get to know characters thoroughly to find out what makes them tick.

 

If you were a cookie, what kind would you be and why?

I would be a seven-layer bar, which includes chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, nuts, peanut butter, graham crackers, coconut, and an ingredient I can’t remember at the moment. Like my writing, I like layers.

 

You run the fantastic I Heart Lesfic, which I signed up for too. Can you explain what it is and where readers can subscribe—and why they should?

I Heart Lesfic is a place for authors and fans of lesfic to come together to celebrate and chat about lesbian fiction. Every Tuesday, I send out a new release newsletter listing e-books and audiobooks. Readers love the newsletter and thank me for helping them discover not only new books by their favorite authors but also for helping them discover new up-and-coming authors.

When I first started publishing, there weren’t many resources for lesbian fiction. I Heart Lesfic is my way of helping authors and readers find each other because this world can be lonely.

To sign up for the newsletter, click here.

To learn more about I Heart Lesfic, click here.

 

What types of books do you like to read? Any favorites you can recommend?

I read just about everything, ranging from nonfiction to fiction. Usually, I have three books going at once, plus an audiobook for when I exercise.

Since most reading this interview will more than likely have an interest in lesbian fiction, I’ll stick to recommending some lesfic.

I’m a huge fan of Melissa Brayden’s Soho Loft series. I adore Clare Lydon’s sense of humor in her London Romance series. Harper Bliss’s Pink Bean series is endearing. And Miranda MacLeod’s Letters to Cupid was my favorite read of 2018.

 

When’s your next book coming out, and what are you working on right now?

The next book on the publishing schedule is A Woman Undone, which will be a Valentine’s Day release if all goes according to plan. I’m still working on it.

I’m plotting a book that I’m really excited about, but I’m sworn to secrecy at the moment.

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

Readers can find me at I Heart Lesfic, on Twitter, and on my author website. And, if they want a free copy of A Woman Lost plus bonus scenes, they can sign up for my author newsletter here.

 

Book giveaway

T.B. is giving away three ebook copies of A Woman Undone. Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog.

Entries close on Saturday, March 2, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

There’ll be more author interviews, giveaways, and free books this year. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of them, please subscribe to my blog.

 

The post Book giveaway of “A Woman Undone” by T.B. Markinson appeared first on Jae.

Giveaway of lesbian romance “Ordinary is Perfect” by D. Jackson Leigh

My second guest in my series of lesbian fiction author interviews is D. Jackson Leigh, who just released her thirteenth novel, a small-town romance titled Ordinary is Perfect. She has graciously agreed to give away an ebook copy of her latest novel, so make sure you don’t miss the giveaway at the end of this post!

 

Welcome, Jackson! Please tell us a little about your newest release, Ordinary is Perfect.

Ordinary is Perfect is about looking past our preconceptions to discover the treasure lurking inside. Most romances have main characters we think we’d like to be—super-smart, strikingly beautiful, rich, or famous—who come together because an instant sexual attraction. Ordinary is about two pretty regular people. It’s really in keeping with a theme common to my books: People—and animals—are so much more than what you see on the surface, both physically and emotionally.

 

The blurb of Ordinary is Perfect describes Catherine as “passable-looking”—which is pretty refreshing in the romance genre. Would Autumn, the other main character, agree with that assessment? What makes Catherine perfect in her eyes?

Catherine has a pleasant, but not beautiful face. She’s not a person you’d notice in a crowd, because she’s reserved and does nothing to enhance her appearance—no makeup, her clothes practical for farming, and her shoulder-length brown hair simply tied back rather than styled. She actually prefers to go unnoticed.

Autumn is very style conscious, always seeking to make an impression and to prove herself worthy. She sees only Catherine’s surface at first and deems her too butch and too “country” for her tastes. It’s only after Autumn gets to know Catherine that she begins to recognize how really special Catherine is, and that changes how she sees Catherine’s outward appearance. Autumn no longer sees Catherine as a butch lesbian, but as a handsome woman. She no longer sees boring; she sees an anchor to her storm. And Autumn comes to see Catherine’s lack of concern about enhancing her appearance with makeup, clothes, and a designer haircut as a statement of honesty—something she’s rarely experienced in her life.

 

Ordinary is Perfect has a 10-year-old supporting character. Was she hard to write? How did you make sure to get her right?

She was not hard to write. I pretty much raised my two younger sisters after my mom became a nurse and started working when I was twelve years old. I also have a big, pretty close-knit family and loved spending time with my nieces and nephews as they were growing up. I’m the cool, lesbian aunt who keeps their family from being ordinary in the eyes of their friends. LOL. Now, I love spoiling my great-nieces and great-nephews. So, I’ve had a lot of experience with their fears and constantly shifting moods. And I’m still a bit of a kid at heart and so could easily slip into Gabe’s head.

 

You have written three speculative fiction novels, the Dragon Horse War series. How was the writing process different from writing a contemporary romance novel?

The world-building and maintaining consistency throughout the three books of the trilogy was extremely difficult. When I started the project, I had no clue about the millions of details I would have to remember. I thought there were a lot of secondary characters in the first book, but the second and third books added even more characters. Also, the setting is more than two centuries in the future, so I had to consider how society would have changed during that time. The great religions had finally extinguished each other in a worldwide holy war, so since there was no belief in a single omnipotent god, I had to come with new swear words. Also, each book had to have a story arc within the overall story arc of the trilogy.

There were times that I felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the project. I usually stick to a specific outline, but these characters totally took the story out of my hands as I wrote. That was scary. I just knew I’d get to 90,000 words and suddenly discover I’d written a major flaw into the story.

In the end, it was good experience for me, and I think it allowed—and sometimes forced—me to stretch as a writer. Most important, the Dragon Horse War trilogy is my social commentary about how we allow our differences to divide us as a society when we should be celebrating them.

 

As an editor, I couldn’t help noticing—and appreciating—that your writing got stronger with each of the books you published. What did you do to improve your writing skills?

I am a career journalist, but fiction writing is so different from reporting news events. I’ve had a lot to learn since my first book.

When Radclyffe called me almost eleven years ago to say that Bold Strokes Books would publish my first book, Bareback, she cautioned that she was only interested in authors who wanted to hone their craft and write more than one book. Every other year, Bold Strokes hosts a retreat for their writers with workshops on subjects like point of view, character development, conflict, writing sex scenes, etc. We discuss and examine the mechanics of our craft.

Also, every Bold Strokes writer can get free ebook copies of all BSB books published each month, if they want them. I read as many as I can, then spend my money on books by authors I admire from other publishers to note the words they use, the plot twists, scene and character building. And I incessantly listen to audiobooks even if I’ve already read the book, because audio allows you to feel the pacing and rhythm and to hear the melody and flow of the words.

However, I have to give most of the credit to my editor, Dr. Shelley Thrasher, who has been the biggest influence in my development as a fiction writer. She’s edited all but two of my books and helped me tighten my sentences and overall pacing. Her editing style is uniquely suited to me. Most book editors I know make several passes over a manuscript, editing for a specific thing each time. Many do this before they return the manuscript to the writer to clean up the problems. Shelley sends the manuscript back more than once, each time allowing me the opportunity to read through the manuscript too, after weeks of not looking at it. I find edits I want to make too and send them back for her approval along with the corrections she’s asked me to make. A lot of writers dread the editing process, but I love it because Shelley lets me be involved. In the end, I feel confident that we’re printing the best book I can write.

 

Most of your books feature horses in one way or another. What makes horses special to you personally?

I’ve always been crazy attracted to the beauty, power, and rhythm of horses. I’m that kid who asked for a pony every Christmas and never understood why I couldn’t keep one in our backyard. I’m not a formally trained equestrian, because my family never had money for such things. But in the small rural town where I grew up, I had friends who lived on farms, and I rode their horses at every opportunity.

When I moved to North Carolina in my 30s, I finally bought my first horse, an Arabian. The first close friend I made in North Carolina is an equine veterinarian. When we met, she was just starting her own practice so picked up a lot of weekend emergency work for other horse vets in the area. My best weekends were when she’d swing by and pick me up to ride with her on calls. She liked having someone to talk to while driving from farm to farm, and I loved soaking up her horse knowledge and visiting lots of different farms and horses. We used to joke that we were both horses in a previous life.

When I moved to Raleigh, my Arabian was in his 20s and, although I’ve seen twenty-year-old Arabians still winning ribbons in the show ring, I retired him at another friend’s farm. He’s gone now, taken in his late twenties by sudden and deadly case of colic.

 

What wallpaper do you have on your computer or laptop right now?

At home, something generic that Microsoft throws up there and changes every now and then. At the office where I edit news stories, I have a Peanuts cartoon that declares: “Editors are sometimes human, too.”

 

What did you want to become when you grew up?

I mostly dreamed of being a cowboy (obviously not a cowgirl because they all wore silly skirts), but it was a fantasy, not a real aspiration. My childhood was a string of barefoot summers, fun with cousins, riding ponies, and reading every book I could get my hands on, and I never spent much time worrying about what I’d be when I grew up. I never aspired to be a journalist. I just fell into it because I loved reading and writing and thought journalism was the only alternative to teaching. Much to my surprise, I found I was pretty good at it, too.

 

What types of books do you like to read? Any favorites you can recommend?

My favorite genre is romance, obviously. I consider Radclyffe and Gerri Hill masters of the romance craft, but there are many, many others I love, too. I’ve read or listened to every one of your books. This blog would be too long if I listed them all.

I also love fantasy (more than science fiction). I spent a month once reading every one of Jane Fletcher’s books. When I won a Goldie in the fantasy category for Dragon Horse War: The Calling, I think I was more thrilled that the other two winners were Fletcher Delancey and D. Jordan Redhawk than I was about receiving my award. I love their books.

I love LL Raand’s Midnight Hunters series, but I also love Gill McKnight’s Garoul series. I’ve read Amber Eye at least three times.

 

When’s your next book coming out, and what are you working on right now?

Ordinary is Perfect just came out this month (January 2019). My day job—the move from a printed newspaper to a digital product—is consuming my life right now, so I don’t feel like I can sign a contract with a deadline right now.

However, I have a 15,000-word piece on the back burner that started out as a short story for Ylva’s Don’t Be Shy collection. I’m considering fleshing that out as a short novel. It’s an erotic story about a writer who falls for her niece’s riding instructor.

I also have a story loosely mapped out and titled Naked. It’s something of a romantic comedy about a woman who has spent her life letting her ovaries make her life decisions—the worst ones happen when she’s naked and in a sex haze—and results in a series of ridiculous situations. She’s personable and attractive, and her reputation for calamity makes her a popular party guest and leads to string of short-term relationships. She’s okay with that until she meets that special woman. She desperately wants to prove she’s not a total screw-up but can’t seem to get out of her own way.

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

My books are released first at www.boldstrokesbooks.com, then midmonth on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.bellabooks.com, and many independent bookstores.  My website www.djacksonleigh.com doesn’t have my latest books on it, but links to my personal blog.

On social media, I can be found at facebook.com/d.jackson.leigh and @djacksonleigh (Twitter). Also, I love to hear from readers, and they can write to me at author@djacksonleigh.com.

 

Book giveaway

D. Jackson Leigh is giving away an ebook copy of her latest novel, Ordinary is Perfect. Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog.

Entries close on Thursday, February 7, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

There’ll be more author interviews, giveaways, and free books this year. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of them, please subscribe to my blog.

 

The post Giveaway of lesbian romance “Ordinary is Perfect” by D. Jackson Leigh appeared first on Jae.

2018 in review and my writing goals for 2019

Like for many of us, the beginning of a new year is a time to look back at the past year for me—and a time to make plans and goals for the new year. Goal setting has helped me a lot as a full-time writer.

So, let’s see how I did on my goals for 2018:

 

Write and publish two English novels. 

I did achieve that goal, but the second novel wasn’t the one I expected.

I published Just for Show, a romance novel about a fake relationship, in February. Novel #2 wasn’t another book in the Portland Police Bureau series, as I had planned, but a workplace romance titled Paper Love.

 

Translate and publish four German novels. 

I actually published not four, but five novels in German. I translated Shaken to the Core (Aus dem Gleichgewicht), Just for Show (Alles nur gespielt), Paper Love (Tintenträume) and Backwards to Oregon, which was published in two parts (Westwärts ins Glück Band 1 & 2).

 

Co-author a novella set in Germany. 

That’s one goal that I didn’t accomplish—or at least not the way I had initially planned. I did write Paper Love, but I ended up writing it alone and turning it into a novel. I guess that’s what happens when you set a book in your beloved hometown.

 

Attend the GCLS conference in Las Vegas in July and at least one literary event in Europe. 

That’s another check mark on my list of goals for 2018. I attended the GCLS conference in Las Vegas in July—surviving temperatures of up to 114°F!—and the EllCon (European Lesfic Literary Conference) in Bristol in August, with much more pleasant temperatures. I also attended the book fair in Frankfurt in October, where a uniformed police officer dragged half a dozen of her colleagues to the Ylva Publishing booth so I could sign a book for her.

 

Continue to give back to the community of LGBT readers and writers.

I think I can consider that goal accomplished too. I ran Lesbian Book Bingo, a year-long reading challenge for lesbian and f/f books, and I got wonderful feedback from hundreds of readers who enjoyed it.

 

Become a more healthy writer. 

Yeah well… That one was a success for part of the year. Sometimes I managed to work out three times a week and take a walk during my lunch break; sometimes I didn’t.

 

Read more books for fun. 

That one was a partial success too. I did read about two dozen lesbian books in 2018, but I didn’t quite manage to complete my entire bingo card since a lot of the books fit into the same squares. My favorite tropes of the year seemed to be sports romances (4 books), characters with a disability (4 books), and fake relationships (3 books).

 

Other accomplishments in 2018:

There were also some accomplishments and highlights in 2018 that I hadn’t actually planned:

Four of my novels were published as an audiobook (Something in the Wine, Just for Show, Perfect Rhythm, and Paper Love).
I published a collection of all my contemporary romance short stories, Happily Ever After .
Perfect Rhythm won quite a few awards in 2018: a GCLS Literary Award (Contemporary Romance – Long Novels), an IPPY Award (bronze) in the Best Romance/Erotica E-Book category, and an eLit Awards 2018 (silver) in the LGBT Fiction category.

 

 

My goals for 2019

Here are the goals I set for myself for 2019:

 

Write and publish two English novels. 

My first novel for 2019 will be Not the Marrying Kind, a romance between an easygoing, 6-foot baker and a closeted florist. In the second half of the year, I’ll publish another contemporary romance before I’ll get started on book 3 for the Portland Police Bureau series.

 

Translate and publish two German novels. 

I’m hoping to translate Not the Marrying Kind and my historical romance Hidden Truths into German in 2019.

 

Write two short stories. 

I would like to write at least two short stories in 2019—one will be a follow-up to Just Physical and will be part of an erotica anthology. The other one will be a sweet, romantic short story sequel to Perfect Rhythm.

 

Attend the GCLS conference in Pittsburgh in July and the book fair in Frankfurt in October. 

I’m planning to once again make it across the big pond to attend the GCLS conference, this time in Pittsburgh. While I’m in the US, I would also like to see some of the places my characters in Just for Show visited in New York City. In October, I’m planning on attending the book fair in Frankfurt for the eighth time in a row.

 

Continue to give back to the community of LGBT readers and writers. 

Like every year, I’d like to find a way to give back to the community of LGBTQ readers and writers. In 2019, I’ll host a series of authors interviews, and each one will include a giveaway, a free book, or a reduced book.

 

Become a more healthy writer. 

Since I earn my living sitting at my desk, I’ll need to work harder to stay healthy. That means cutting out sugar except for very special occasions and trying to get in three workouts and walks every week.

 

Read more books for fun. 

As a result of Book Bingo, I put dozens (or more like hundreds) of new books on my to-be-read list. I’d like to find more time to read for pleasure in 2019. I’m hoping to combine the last two goals by listening to audiobooks while taking a walk at a nearby lake.

 

 

How did you do with your goals for 2018? And what are your goals, plans, and hopes for 2019?

Please leave a comment and let us know.

The post 2018 in review and my writing goals for 2019 appeared first on Jae.